Political Studies Lecturer Publishes Book on the Legacy of PEI's Longest Serving Premier

Wayne MacKinnon, a political studies lecturer at UPEI, has just released a book about the legacy of PEI's longest serving Premier. It was 40 years ago this fall that Alex B. Campbell, a young political rookie from Summerside, announced his intention to seek the leadership of the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island. He was just 31 years old, and had been elected to the Legislature in a by-election six months earlier. Despite his young age and lack of political experience, he won the leadership and went on, the following year, to lead the party to victory in a general election.

Campbell led the province through major social and economic changes. Under his leadership, the 1960s and 70s became one of the liveliest political eras in the province's history. The book's title, Between Two Cultures, refers to the tumultuous changes taking place during that time. As stated in the prologue, it was both the end of an era and the beginning of an era. The last vestiges of the old order were being eroded, and the province faced a new and uncertain future with the inception of the Comprehensive Development Plan. Debates over the future of the family farm, industrial development, school consolidation, land use and public participation dominated the political agenda.

MacKinnon is the author of numerous publications, including The Life of the Party, a history of the Liberal Party of Prince Edward Island. Between Two Cultures was published by Tea Hill Press and is being distributed by Tangle Lane.